ALBANY- Governor Kathy Hochul has released the results of the Transgender Employment Study, a first-of-its-kind report that details the experiences of transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary New Yorkers in the workplace.
The release of the report is the result of legislation Hochul previously signed that required the Department of Labor to conduct the study in consultation with the state Division of Human Rights. The full study is available HERE.
The purpose of the study was to determine whether employment disparities among transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary individuals in the state exist, evaluate factors contributing to those disparities, and recommend proposals to address barriers to equal employment.
According to the report, employment discrimination based on gender identity is pervasive throughout the state. It says that transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary people of color experience greater employment disparities and that there is a lack of cultural competency statewide regarding gender identity and expression.
The report also indicated that there is a genuine fear for safety in the workplace among transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary individuals and that discrimination and other barriers have led to these people seeking self-employment opportunities.
“As the birthplace of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement, New York State has maintained a deep commitment to providing greater respect, stronger protections, and better opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community,” said Governor Hochul. “This report provides a glimpse into the work lives of trans, gender non-confirming, and non-binary New Yorkers and charts a path forward on addressing the barriers they face.”
Lawmakers are expected to use the results of the report as a baseline for crafting new workplace and employment legislation.
